Category: Sports

(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Thursday’s sports events:

NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Bucks 99, Grizzlies 122
Rockets 108, Mavericks 102
Spurs 106, Jazz 88
Suns 125, Clippers 119

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Oilers 5, Predators 1
Blackhawks 2, Sharks 3
Kraken 1, Maple Leafs 4
Blues 1, Flyers 2
Ducks 1, Penguins 2
Canadiens 3, Capitals 6
Bruins 2, Hurricanes 8

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(NEW YORK) — The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in the 2024 World Series on Wednesday.

Dodgers clinched their second World Series title in the last five years by beating the Yankees 7-6 during Game 5 at Yankee Stadium.

After a historic season, including setting a home run record, Freddie Freeman was named the series’ Most Valuable Player.

While dealing with an ankle injury from the National League Championship Series in September, Freeman hit the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history during Game 1, in the bottom of the 10th inning at Dodgers Stadium.

After rounding the bases following his grand slam, Freeman ran to his father, “He’s been throwing me batting practice since I can remember. My swing is because of him. My approach is because of him. I am who I am because of him,” Freeman said in his post-game interview.

“If he didn’t throw me batting practice, if he didn’t love the game of baseball, I wouldn’t be here playing this game,” he said. “So that’s Fred Freeman’s moment right there.”

Adding to the list of records that were broken during the Fall Classic, the Dodgers became the first team to secure a World Series win after coming back from five or more runs.

Mookie Betts, Freeman and Teoscar Hernández managed to rally from the Yankees’ five-run lead, tying the score in the fifth inning.

Wednesday’s win marked the Dodgers’ eighth title in franchise history, the first since the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season and the first full-season win since 1988.

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(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Wednesday’s sports events:

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
LA Dodgers 7, NY Yankees 6 (Dodgers win World Series)

NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Raptors 133, Hornets 138
Lakers 110, Cavaliers 134
Celtics 132, Pacers 135
Pistons 105, 76ers 95
Hawks 120, Wizards 133
Knicks 116, Heat 107
Magic 99, Bulls 102
Nets 119, Grizzlies 106
Spurs 93, Thunder 105
Pelicans 89, Warriors 104
Trail Blazers 106, Clippers 105

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Islanders 0, Blue Jackets 2
Jets 6, Red Wings 2
Lightning 5, Avalanche 2
Flames 1, Utah Hockey Club 5
Golden Knights 3, Kings 6
Devils 6, Canucks 0

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(NEW YORK) — The NFL locker room is filled with intense emotions, from euphoric athletes celebrating victories to those coping with the pain of defeat. For players, reporters and fans, there’s nothing like being there in the thick of those post-game moments.

However, some NFL players are calling for a “timeout” on reporters conducting locker room interviews.

“If only y’all knew how awkward some of the male reporters act,” former wide receiver Torrey Smith wrote in an X post earlier this month. “Straight meat watchers.”

Some players want to move interviews outside the locker rooms to protect players’ privacy and dignity in the space where they shower and change.

“Well, we’ve had some instances where guys have been naked, and it’s been sent unchecked and unedited,” Lloyd Howell Jr., executive director of the NFL Players Association, said of the situation. “We’ve had hot mics where things have been captured that were never meant to be captured.”

One example is a 2015 Cincinnati Bengals locker room interview that aired on NFL Network, where players could be seen in the background of the broadcast removing towels and changing their clothes.

The Bengals recently said that they will no longer conduct interviews inside their locker room and will instead meet reporters in a different location. The decision came after the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) released a statement urging the league to “make immediate changes” to its media policy.

“Over the past three years, the NFLPA has worked to collaborate with the NFL and the Pro Football Writers of America to move media interviews out of the locker room,” it said.

Some reporters are pushing back. Calvin Watkins, President of the Pro Football Writers of America, who has covered the Dallas Cowboys and other NFL teams for over two decades, noted that the players already have protections.

“If a player comes out of the shower and he wants to get dressed in the locker room, the team must provide a curtain around his locker stall so he could get dressed in private,” he said.

The media is willing to respect players’ wishes, Watkins said, as long as they still get their interviews. He also noted that this kind of access and the coverage that comes from it has contributed significantly to the NFL’s current status as a globally recognizable and successful brand.

The current NFL media policy notes that interviews “may be conducted outside the locker area” if the club or player requests it.

“However, media representatives must be permitted to request interviews in person with players inside the locker room,” it says.

It also gives the home clubs responsibility for ensuring that both teams’ shower areas are screened from view.

“Each team must provide its players with wrap-around towels or robes, in addition to the standard supply of bath towels for post-game showers,” the policy says.

Other professional sports, such as basketball and baseball, grant reporters even greater access to the locker room.

Christine Brennan was one of the first female reporters allowed inside an NFL locker room, as a beat reporter for the Washington Post in 1985.

The conversation about locker room access has evolved over the course of her career, having been a “man’s domain” in her early days.

“So many of these hard-line old-school coaches didn’t believe women knew football, didn’t believe women should be around the game of football,” Brennan said. “And they fought tooth and nail to prevent people like me from doing my job.”

By 1985, the NFL began requiring equal access for both male and female reporters.

However, the NFLPA’s Howell said today’s debate isn’t about gender at all — it’s about evaluating a longstanding tradition through a 2024 perspective.

“It’s just going to be a very different procedure and I think it’s going to limit the information the fans, followers, observers of the National Football League care so much about,” Brennan said.

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(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Tuesday’s sports events:

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
LA Dodgers 4, NY Yankees 11

NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Nuggets 144, Nets 139
Mavericks 120, Timberwolves 114
Kings 113, Jazz 96
Pelicans 106, Warriors 124

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Flyers 2, Bruins 0
Kraken 8, Canadiens 2
Blues 1, Senators 8
Ducks 3, Islanders 1
Wild 5, Penguins 3
Rangers 3, Capitals 5
Kings 2, Sharks 4

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(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Monday’s sports events:

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
LA Dodgers 4, NY Yankees 2

NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Pacers 115, Magic 119
Wizards 121, Hawks 119
Bucks 108, Celtics 119
Pistons 98, Heat 106
Cavaliers 110, Knicks 104
Nuggets 127, Raptors 125 [OT]
Bulls 126, Grizzlies 123
Rockets 106, Spurs 101
Jazz 102, Mavericks 110
Lakers 105, Suns 109
Trail Blazers 98, Kings 111

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Panthers 5, Sabres 2
Oilers 1, Blue Jackets 6
Predators 2, Lightning 3 [OT]
Maple Leafs 6, Jets 4
Blackhawks 5, Avalanche 2
Sharks 5, Utah Hockey Club 4
Hurricanes 4, Canucks 3
Flames 0, Golden Knights 5

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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Philadelphia 118, Indiana 114 (OT)
Portland 125, New Orleans 103 
Brooklyn 115, Milwaukee 102 
Oklahoma City 128, Atlanta 104 
LA Clippers 112, Golden State 104

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Edmonton 3, Detroit 2 (OT)
Montreal 4, Philadelphia 3 
New Jersey 6, Anaheim 2 
Final Colorado 5, Ottawa 4

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Arizona 28, Miami 27 
Atlanta 31, Tampa Bay 26 
Cleveland 29, Baltimore 24 
Detroit 52, Tennessee 14 
Green Bay 30, Jacksonville 27 
Houston 23, Indianapolis 20 
New England 25, NY Jets 22 
Philadelphia 37, Cincinnati 17 
Buffalo 31, Seattle 10 
LA Chargers 26, New Orleans 8 
Denver 28, Carolina 14 
Kansas City 27, Las Vegas 20 
Washington 18, Chicago 15 
San Francisco 30, Dallas 24

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
Orlando City 2, Charlotte FC 0 
Los Angeles FC, 2 Vancouver 1

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(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Thursday’s sports events:

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Vikings 20, Rams 30

NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Celtics 122, Wizards 102
Spurs 109, Mavericks 120
Thunder 102, Nuggets 87
Timberwolves 117, Kings 115

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Stars 5, Bruins 2
Blues 5, Maple Leafs 1
Devils 3, Red Wings 5
Wild 4, Lightning 2
Panthers 3, Rangers 1
Hurricanes 4, Flames 2
Avalanche 5, Utah Hockey Club 1
Jets 4, Kraken 3
Sharks 2, Kings 3

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(NEWPORT, R.I.) — Five-time major champion and former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova and Bob and Mike Bryan, the most successful men’s doubles pairing in history, were named to the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 on Thursday.

They will be inducted Aug. 23 at the Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, following a three-day celebration and related activities.

In a statement, Kim Clijsters, the Hall’s president and a member of the 2017 Hall of Fame class, praised the trio for their careers and achievements.

“Beyond each of their historic accomplishments on the court, the Class of 2025 have had such a profound impact on the game of tennis and have inspired multiple generations of fans across the world,” Clijsters said. “We look forward to celebrating them in Newport next year.”

Sharapova, 37, is one of 10 women to achieve the career Grand Slam. One of the most recognizable players on tour for much of her career, Sharapova was Forbes’ highest-paid female athlete in the world for 11 consecutive years due to her earnings on the court and various endorsement deals.

Sharapova’s reputation and marketability suffered following the announcement of a failed test for a banned substance in 2016, and she was suspended from the sport for 15 months. She returned to competition in April 2017 and won her last title at the Tianjin Open that October. She retired in February 2020.

She won 36 titles overall and claimed an Olympic silver medal while representing her native Russia in 2012. Sharapova held the world’s top ranking on five separate occasions for a combined 21 weeks. She was ranked in the top five for 408 weeks.

Identical twins and California natives Bob and Mike Bryan, 46, won 16 major titles, four ATP Finals and 119 overall titles together. The Bryan brothers held the No. 1 doubles ranking for 438 weeks, including a streak of 139 weeks from February 2013 to October 2015. They held the year-end top ranking 10 times, earned Olympic doubles gold in 2012 and bronze in 2008, and helped lead the United States team to Davis Cup victory in 2007.

Mike, older than Bob by two minutes, won two additional major doubles titles and the year-end ATP Finals alongside Jack Sock in 2018 when Bob was sidelined with injury, putting Mike atop the list for most all time. Both brothers earned multiple mixed doubles trophies — Bob with seven and Mike with four — throughout their 22-year career. They retired together in August 2020.

In an interview this week with ESPN, Bob said they would have “just fallen over” in shock if someone had told them as tennis-loving children that they would one day end up in the Hall of Fame.

“It was nothing we ever even put on our goal list,” Bob said. “It’s almost too unattainable for a young kid to think about that, and we always just loved what we did. I think that’s what drove us to this point, and it allowed us to play tennis for so long. It was never really work or sacrifice for us.

“… It’s an incredibly special feeling just because all of our idols and so many of the legends of the game are in there, and to be included in a house that holds those names is amazing for us.”

Mike told ESPN that people began mentioning to them the possibility of the two ultimately being Hall of Famers once they broke Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde’s record for most titles together (61), but it wasn’t something either was focused on during their careers.

“We thought of ‘The Woodies’ record like climbing Mount Everest. It was such a milestone, but we would still kind of shrug it off when people would say, ‘Oh one day you might be in Newport,'” Mike said. “But once we put our rackets down and really had the chance to look back on our body of work, we thought it might stack up when the vote came in five years. Then it was in the back of our minds.”

The two were excited to learn they had been nominated in August. Earlier this month, while Mike and his family were staying with Bob and his family in South Florida after evacuating their Tampa Bay-area home during Hurricane Milton, both brothers received a text message asking whether they could attend a Zoom call later that day.

Sitting side-by-side in Bob’s office, they knew it was good news as soon as they saw Clijsters’ smiling face on the screen. Clijsters told them they were officially part of the 2025 Hall of Fame class, alongside Sharapova, someone whom they have known since she first came on tour.

“She’s done great things for the sport, and great things off the court, so to be in this class with her is special,” Mike said.

Bob said they were looking forward to spending time with Sharapova during the lead-in events and to have a formal occasion to thank everyone who helped them along the way.

“We retired during the pandemic, and we never really had a chance to thank all of these people that played a big part in our career,” Bob said. “We just kind of sailed off into the sunset and never put a bow on the whole journey. So we’re going to try to get as many people together as possible and just tell them how appreciative we are and that this is their moment too.”

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